Nets come from behind to beat Mavs for fourth straight win

Brooklyn had won three straight games, and traveled to Dallas to take on the scorching Mavericks. With the Toronto Raptors beating the Hawks, a win for the Nets kept them at 1.5 games behind for first place in the Atlantic Division.

The Nets' struggles keeping up with quicker guards was made apparent in the first half, as Devin Harris scored nine first half points while Monta Ellis put up eight. They were, however, able to contain Dirk Nowitzki holding him to just four points.

Marcus Thornton and Mirza Teletovic came off the bench in the first half to help keep the Nets in the game. After trailing 18-5 at one point, the bench sparked the Nets and they cut the lead down to three at one point. The Nets trailed the Mavs 48-41 at halftime after their slow start.

It was Samuel Dalembert who was giving the Nets all sorts of trouble down low. There was no chance of the Nets getting points in the paint with him down there, and it seemed like every layup that went up was swatted by the 6'11" 32 year old who is known for being a presence down low. He had six points, 10 rebounds, and six blocks through the third quarter, and finished with 12 points, 15 rebounds, and seven blocks.

A 20-3 run allowed the Nets to complete the comeback in the fourth quarter, putting them up 79-75. It was the MT boys Marcus Thornton and Mirza Teletovic who once again that gave them the spark off the bench, and made this a game again after the Nets fell behind by 13 again in the third quarter.

It was Monta Ellis who took the reigns for Dallas in the fourth quarter, and single-handedly led them to the late fourth quarter success. It became a back-and-forth effort in the fourth, but Joe Johnson, to nobody's surprise, made a late layup to tie the game, and that sent it into overtime.

It was Joe Johnson and Deron Williams who hit the big shots in overtime for Brooklyn, and even though Monta Ellis hit two clutch threes, the Nets were able to pull off the 107-104 victory. This marks the Nets' fourth straight victory.

Joe Johnson led the Nets with 22 points on 8/16 from the field. Marcus Thornton came off the bench to put up 20 points on 7/11 shooting as well as seven rebounds.

For Dallas, Monta Ellis finished with 32 points on 11/24 shooting. Dirk Nowitzki found himself struggling and the Nets were able to hold him to just 10 points on 2/12 shooting.

Final Score: 107-104 NETS
Most Disappointing Stat of the Game: Nets 40.5 percent from the field.
Promising Stat of the Game: Marcus Thornton's 20 points on 7/11 shooting. 
Scariest Moment of the Game: Andrei Kirilenko leaving in the second quarter with an ankle injury.
Best Moment of the Game: Joe Johnson for the tie!!

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